Anglesey Barracks
| Date | 5 February 2012 | ||
| Location | Dinorwic Quarry, Llanberis | SH 58970 60209; 53.12034°N, 4.10885°W | |
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Anglesey Barracks, comprising two rows of 11 dwellings, served as accommodation for some of the quarrymen who commuted to Dinorwic from Anglesey. They would spend the week based in the barracks working in the quarry, leaving their homes very early on Monday morning and returning to the island on Saturday afternoon. Conditions were spartan. Each two-room unit had a living area with a fireplace and a sleeping area for four men. Facilities were scant — no running water, toilets or electricity, for example — and the workers had to bring all their week’s supplies with them when they arrived on a Monday. Public-health inspectors closed down these barracks in 1948. Dinorwic Quarry;
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No-frills living quarters housing four quarrymen. The living room with fireplace is on the right, the bedroom on the left.
Serried chimney stacks
Ruined roof
One side of the 'street'
A room with a view. Looking out over Dolbadarn Castle from a building close to the barracks.
Dolbadarn Castle
These are fascinating to look at! Beautiful tones.
Thanks Jennifer. Glad you like them.
Great pictures Graham. I walked up here with a friend last year, and she remembers one cottage at the end had people squatting in it (about16-18 years ago). I’m surprised some enterprising soul hasn’t turned them into holiday cottages with views like that!
Funny you should say that – not far from the barracks one of the other buildings looked like it was (or had recently been) inhabited.
The walk there, while carrying all your supplies, might put off your average holidaymaker. Backpackers’ bothies perhaps?
Brilliant again Graham…look forward to your posts
Thanks. Glad you like them.
Great pictures Graham. I used to live just up the path from these (near Blue Peris) and they bring back memories. The frost gives them a lovely tone.
It is a very evocative place, isn’t it? Maybe when you are done with the Penrhyns you should research the Assheton Smiths 😉
Great shots as always, maestro. What a grim life those poor quarrymen must have had.
Thanks, Iain. Grim indeed. It is hard to imagine four men living in each of those tiny units.
Great pictures that bring back many memories of summer days spent exploring this site.
I never encountered squatters, but did once find some evidence of habitation of one of the end cottages. At one time, the left hand three as you enter from the Country Park end were partially re-roofed, presumably by the Park authorities, so as to give a better impression of how the terraces looked when in use. I suspect it was these that Lita’s friend remembers containing squatters. I have a couple of slides taken in the early 1990’s showing the roofed examples. Sadly, the slates were soon scavenged and there is now little evidence of the re-roofing.
Interesting information about the roofing, Mark. I did notice that the first cottage on the left at the end you mention had more intact remains of a roof than the others.
What a fabulous find, Graham, Love them all.
Thanks Lynn